As I watch the snow fall in Indiana, adding four inches to the fourteen inches already on the ground, I am inspired to move forward with our VIP planning. I have found several lodging alternatives to Hotels on the Islands. It is all about location and price. I have found beachfront properties that accommodate up to 14 people. Some of these homes are estate type w/ all of the niceties. The costs per person compare favorably to beachfront Hotels. I have found prices that range from $65. - $95. per person per night. There are several on the North Shore/Sunset Beach area that would fit. The one in Ewa Beach that would fit may or may not be available as it is currently for sale. Some of the places that we are currently considering are #’s - 68236, 109663, 9475, and 39353. If you are interested, go to the link below to view these listings.
There would be some particulars to work out and I am willing to coordinate this to make it happen. One important key here is timing. Some of the properties are booking up quickly. In order to reserve our dates, we would need to make a deposit with full payment due in September. One question sure to come up is "What happens if I need to cancel?” You may want to consider ‘Trip Cancellation Insurance’. The main website that I am looking at is here and this link deals with trip cancellation insurance. Check it out. I would like to hold to the core dates - Nov.1 thru Nov.8 - for the VIP 2007 regardless of lodging preference. Please continue to consider this, but with some sense of urgency - if this type of accommodation will suit your needs. Questions/Comments?
As Golden Girl would say,
Mahalo
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17 comments:
TD - Max Eugene loved the house that is for sale! So, I guess I should say that would be fine for us. BUT I can't find those numbers you referred to in your note. Obviously I'm not doing someting right. I'd like to look at the other rentals. Please give this illiterate some more direction! Thanks, Bo
TD
Wow, all of those houses are wonderful. I noticed one of them is filling fast. (39353)
Any one of them would be wonderful. Hubby said we would love to go see them for you, when everyone has put in their choice. The drive up is great and we would love to do it.
Ewa Beach is just around the corner from us, but the North Shore is an all time favorite for most people. It is more Hawaiiana and an all around delight. In any of these homes, you can forget any worries and relax and rediscover life.
I have to add something here...after sitting on the beach almost daily, I always take my binoculars, on Thursday just as I was sitting down and getting a fix on all the ships out there...boom right in front of me I got to see a whale in a full breach...totally out of the water. That is something you don't get to see very often at all. I was stoked the rest of the day.
Everyone have a wonderful weekend.
My two cents, for all that is worth:
"Far from the madding crowds" sounds mighty good to me for two reasons-
Getting away from the "hot spots" might cost us a little less. More importantly, it's socializing with classmates that I'm gonna be interested in during the VIP, so quiet is good.
We will need transportation to pursue the activities we want to do as a group. Depending on final numbers, we might consider renting and sharing the costs on two vehicles... a compact for the odd errand, (like dashing for more Tequila, right TD and GH?) Then we might make efficient use of a 12 passenger van for our group activities.
I'm sure there are other things we need to be considering that I'm not imagining right now.
Hep me, y'all!
GH - I am sooooo jelous! I would love to see a whale like that! Do they arrive as early as Nov. when the VK's will be there to see them? Oh I hope so!
Bo
For the benefit of BO and others
The numbers that are listed on the post are Listing #. If you clck on to the VRBO website linked in the post - near the top is a place where you can put those numbers in and then hit enter (go) next to it. That will bring up the those listings. Check it out. Sunset Beach is on the north shore of Oahu and is far from the maddening crowds of Waikiki. Depending on the numbers, we would have to rent a couple of cars and that would be an added expense that we could also share. Let me know if you have other questions.
BMG
I have been told that they do arrive early around Nov. I have been watching for years and have seen them blow and swim around, but that was my first full out of the water. It was like watching the ship and then all of a sudden between me and the ship this huge black object, the size of a drive in movie screen came up and jumped. It was breathless for me.
We have this wonderful hike up to this lighthouse we go to and if you get there early in the day, they have been sighted right below you. It is a easy walk up on a blacktop path. About one hour up and 45 min. down.
We take plenty of water and a picnic lunch and sit on the edge of the rocks and just look out.
They only come here to have their babies, as we don't have the right krill for them to eat. Hinch we have no seagulls or pelicans either.
I think GB and TD are on the right idea with the vehicle rental. Depending on where you stay on Northshore, there is a Foodland nearby.
GH - Hope the whales arrive so we can see them. Sounds like you have a great spot to watch.
TD is working hard to organize this trip and trying to consider everyone's needs. I think the trip will be the best. Especially with you there to lead us to special spots to see. Look forward to seeing you most of all GH!
Bo
I'm with you, Bo. I would LOVE to see a whale and one with a calf would be WONDERFUL.
Man or man, if there is anyway we could join you guys . . . (I know it just can't happen but I'm enjoining thinking about it). What a trip that will be!
I'm in for the VIP. Still trying to see if HB will join us. He's a good possibility for now.
I'm up for far from the "madding crowd" also. Being around the corner from GH sounds really great. She's my idea of a wonderful security blanket in unfamiliar territory. I'm into slugging around with VK's...oh, oh, can I play "bar tender"?
And I love whales! Many thanks to TD for his tour directing abilities! I totally trust his judgement and travel insurance is a really great idea! I've seen too many sad faces and heard too many sad stories at my Resort Prision. The Wicker Inn has a very rigid cancellation policy and doesn't refund money for any reason! We only refund in case of a direct hit by a hurricane! Like I said...RIGID, but necessary!
BMG
Thanks for the nice compliment. I am very anxious to see you guys and be able to actually sit down and talk and play catch up.
I told the whales they had to be back in town by your trip time.
I know TD is working hard to find that one special house for you guys. Since he has been here before, he has a handle on it.
FG
Just hog tie that ole hubby and bring him along. You are more than welcome to play bar tendress. That should be a hoot.
PT
If when you are in Indy and you find a great last minute ticket price, come on over. Then you can fly back in and check on your mother. My last trip back I found a great ticket at the last minute.
TD & GH - Hawk and I have been thinking that we would sure love to spend time in Paradise with all of you nice people. We even have some Delta sky miles that would make the airfare free. Right now we have my mom and Hawk's dad in a time of many doctor apts and details of daily life that we attend to. Our parents were great and always there for us. It is our time to be there for them. If we could go, it would have to be a last minute, moon shot like precision thing of everything with our parents being good. (Only a person who has taken care of elderly parents will understand what I just wrote.)
On the whale sighting GH, I know what you saw. When Hawk and I and another couple were in Kawai in 1999 we were out in the ocean in sight of land on a catamarand with about 10 other people and a crew of 2. We were stopped in the water being told how to snorkle, when a whale came up out of the water and seemed to balance on his tail very near us. He stayed out of the water what felt a long time. I looked into the blue-grey eye and remember barnacles on the skin. Everyone was transfixed, cameras in many hands, but no pictures were taken, complete silence. A sideways fall and big splash broke the silence. The captain said he lived his whole life in Kawai and had never seen anything like this.
A life memory for us......
Hotlips..
I am so glad you got to experience that whale. It is way too hard to explain the experience.
I know it made me feel very humble to see such grace come from such a large animal. That was probably once in a lifetime experience for me, but I will take it.
If you do get to come over and sit for a visit and have a mai tai with us, please do. It is going to be great just to sit and watch the sun and visit with everyone and forget our cares and worries for a bit. Sometimes sitting by the ocean is the best cure for just about problem there is.
P.S. I still have my sparkley balls hanging from my desk lamp. My husband thinks they are a hoot.
Thanks again for the laugh.
HL - Hope you and Hawk can join the group; I'm right there with you on the parent care subject. We are planning on getting trip insurance and keeping our fingers crossed that the stars will allign so we can go.
What a thrill to see a whale like you did! A picture really wouldn't have captured what you remember in your minds' eye.
Again, hope you two can make the trip.
Bo
Hot Lips: the vision of that whale balancing on it's tail for you has had me mesmerized all day!
What a site that must have been. A gift from the whale to you.
Thank you so much for writing about it. Now I HAVE to see a whale!!
Thanks everyone for your nice comments. I do believe the VIP will be wonderful.
I hope you all see a whale full breach like GH Hawk and I did. GH have you been to the cemetary near Waimea Falls? This was a place where kings and queens of the island were buried. It is a large square of crushed volcanic rock, maybe 300 feet square with maybe 3 foot walls all around. A 1/4 mile path towards the ocean opens to a wonderful view that I have a picture of now in my family room. Mountains, palm trees and a cove with the ocean lovely shades of blue water lapping upon the bright sandy beach seen from way up high is breathtaking.
HL
HL
Yes, I have been to the place you spoke of. Awesome. My stepdad was from Waimea, Kauai and took me there many years ago. Amazingly, his mother is still alive and living in Kapaa.
His father was a famous Moi fisherman, the ones you see throwing nets from the banks, and they have written a book about him.
I have been to many of the places on four of the main islands and have loved them all.
Just last June, we hiked across the floor of a volcano on the Big Island. Now that was a hike that tested our strength.
That is what's so special about here, each island is so different from the next and so very special.
I always suggest staying long enough to visit at least one more.
I have been on the snorkel cruise that you spoke of and even got to watch the dolphins playing in our boats wake, right in front of us about 10 ft. away.
We were snorkeling when all of a sudden, one of our guides jumped off the boat and swam into the far depths and came up with a nice size octopus.
As for all you future whale watchers, start walking now and get into shape and we will take a breath taking walk up this path to look down and maybe get lucky enough to see some. It is a fairly easy walk up, about one hour, but worth every little ache. Take a picnic lunch and sit on the edge of the cliffs and watch.
I love all these descriptions of the wonderful Hawaiian Sites! I'm excited about the VIP trip! I will try to Hog Tie HB and convince him to make the long journey...I'm a true believer in drugging him and attaching a collar & leash to his neck!
Lots of us in the "Care Bears" role these days. I'm with HL & Hawk, PT, Bo, GH, GB Ms.TC, etc...it's time for us to pay up. So, we'll all cross our fingers and pray for good health to all parents for a very long time!
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